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with thyself, with the same glory which I had with thee before the world was.” Christ was one with the Father before the world was. Therefore, if he should pray, that a believer might be one with him, in regard of equality, he should pray, that a believer might be one with him, in that respect: which were impossible. But he does not pray, that a believer might be one with him by way of equality, as he is one with the Father by way of equality, but similitude. And yet divers learned and reverend men, think the meaning of that place rather to be this, That they may be one among themselves: Christ prays, that they may be all one; that is Lord, I pray, that they may love and agree together; he prays for union among themselves. But suppose it be taken the other way, that the Lord Jesus Christ here does pray, that believers may be one with him, as he is with the Father: that is, not in regard of equality, but in regard of similitude; that as Christ is one with the Father in a way suitable to him, so believers may be one with Christ in a way suitable unto them.

But suppose then, you will say, that a believer is not one with Christ in this height of oneness; how may it appear, by way of scripture reason, that Christ is really united unto each believer, and that he is really in the soul of a believer by the Spirit; not only in regard of infused habits, habits of grace, grace inherent; but that Christ himself is really in a believer by his Spirit?

Ye know, that we are united to Christ by faith: and look what faith lays hold upon, that it brings into the soul: but now, faith does not lay hold upon the graces of Christ barely, but upon Christ himself, and therefore Christ himself by faith is brought into the soul, and is there really in the soul of a believer by his Spirit.

Christ is in a believer, as a believer is in Christ. Now a believer is not in Christ; that is, in his graces. When we say, that we are in Christ; we do not mean that we are in the graces of Christ, but a believer is in Christ himself, as in the common head. A believer is not in the graces of Christ only, but he is in Christ himself. So Christ is not in a believer only by his graces, but he is really there in the soul of a believer by his Spirit.

If the Lord Christ were not really in the soul of a believer by his Spirit, besides those habits of grace, actings and ope

rations of the Spirit; then how would there be three that bare witness? The apostle tells us; "There are three that bear witness in heaven, and in our hearts, the Spirit, water and blood," 1 John v. 8. Water; what is that? That is sanctification; a man's sanctification does bear witness to him that he is the child of God, that is, water. But now, sanctification consists, either in the habit of grace, or in the acting of grace; if therefore the Spirit of Christ in a believer, were nothing else but grace, inherent grace, then it were allone with the testimony of water: but there are three that bear witness, there is the testimony of the Spirit, there is the testimony of blood, and there is the testimony of water: if by the Spirit we are to understand only, the grace of Christ, the habit of grace in the soul, then there would be but two that bear witness, namely, water and blood; because the other would be all one with water: water being meant only sanctification: but now there are three that do bear witness unto a soul that is in Christ, the Spirit and blood and water; and therefore Christ is really in a believer, Christ really united unto all believers by his Spirit.

What is the benefit of all this? For suppose that we grant this, That Christ in a believer is not only grace, and the habits of grace in the soul, but Christ himself is really in the soul of a believer by his Spirit: what profit, benefit, or comfort will come unto a believer more this way, than the other way?

Much every way: If Jesus Christ be really united to each believer by his Spirit, and really in him in this spiritual and mystical way; then a believer shall have more blessed and glorious communion with Christ than the other way. For union is the root of communion: the husband and the wife are first joined together, and united, and then they have communion with one another and fellowship in their goods and estate; union is the ground of communion; and the nearer the union, the greater the communion. Now if

Christ should be only in a believer by the habit of grace, the union would not be so great: but if this be true, that Christ is really in a believer by his Spirit, Christ really united to each believer, here the union is dearer, and therefore the communion and fellowship that a believer shall have with Christ, a great deal more and more blessed.

If Christ be really united unto a believer, unto all believers by his Spirit, then his love must needs be infinite towards believers. If that his graces only were in them, he would love them; because thereby they should be made like unto him but now, if his own Spirit be in a believer, then his love must needs be infinite unto a believer, and a believer's love infinite to him again in his way. This is a great and glorious privilege.

If Christ be really in a believer, really united to each believer by his Spirit; then a believer, knowing this, may say, I have now somewhat more than any hypocrite can attain unto. Says a poor soul, many times, If I had but that grace that no hypocrite can attain unto, then my soul would he quiet within me; but now, as for gifts and graces, there is no hypocrite but may attain to them, or something that is like to them. What will ye instance in; will ye instance in faith? It is said of Simon Magus, Acts viii. 13, that he believed. Will ye instance in repentance? It is said of Judas, Matt. xxvii. 3, that he also repented; and, Heb. xii. 17, Esau that sought the birth-right with tears. Will ye instance in hearing of the word with joy? It is said, Matt. xiii. 20, so did the false ground. Will ye instance in the partakings of the heavenly gift and powers of the world to come? Men have a taste of these, and yet fall away. Heb. vi. 5, 6. sanctification itself? It is said of certain xth of the Hebrews, "That they trample upon the blood of Christ, wherewithal they are sanctified." So that even a wicked man, in Scripture phrase, is said to be sanctified; one that falls away and comes to nought. But where do ye find, in all the Scripture, that the Lord Christ is said to be in an hypocrite? An hypocrite is said to repent, to believe, to receive the word with joy, and to be sanctified, in a large sense; but where do ye find, in all the Bible, of any hypocrite that Christ is said to be in him-really united unto an hypocrite? No, this is the great privilege of a believer only; "Christ in you the hope of glory," Col. i. 27.

Will ye instance in wicked men, in the

If Jesus Christ be really united unto each believer, by his Spirit, then a believer shall never die again—spiritually die again. I have read of a woman, that when her husband was dead, she would eat and drink the ashes of her husband; have his body burnt to ashes, and so eat and drink the ashes

of her husband: and being asked the reason, Because, says she, I mean to part with him no more; I have parted with him once already, when we were one, but now I will be made one with him in another way, and I will part no more with him. So, if Christ be in a believer, really in a believer, Christ really united unto each believer by his Spirit; then Christ and that believer shall never part again, that believer shall die no more; for the same Spirit that raised up Christ from the dead, dwelling in a believer, shall also raise up a poor believer, yea, though he fall into the grave of sin; he shall never die spiritually again upon this account.

If Christ be really united unto all believers by his Spirit, then they may come with boldness unto the throne of grace, and with unlimited expectations of mercy from God the Father, and from Christ Jesus. The nearer ye are unto any person, the more boldness ye have towards him, and the larger will your expectations be from him. If a man marry his servant; whilst she was his maid, she was not so bold, nor could expect so much from him: when she becomes the wife, then she is more bold, and can expect more, because now she is nearer. A child may have more boldness, and expect more from the father than the servant; and the servant that is within doors more than the servant that works in the field; but the wife, that is nearest, she is most bold, comes with most boldness into the presence of the man, and hath the largest expectations from him, because she is nearest to him. So the nearer that the soul of a believer does get unto God, the more boldness he may have when he comes to God, and the larger expectations of mercy from him. Now if Christ were in a believer only by the habit of grace, and Christ in the soul were nothing else but the habit of grace; here were yet a great distance from Christ: but now, if Jesus Christ be really united unto each believer by his Spirit, here is a close union indeed. And therefore, upon this account, every believer may come with boldness now, and with unlimited expectations of mercy from God the Father, being brought thus near, that Christ himself is really in the believer's soul. And what a glorious and blessed condition is every believer in now upon this account.

Here I would stand, admire, and call upon you all to admire the condescending, glorious, and unspeakable love of

Christ. It was an infinite love of Christ to condescend so far, as to come down into our nature when he was incarnate; but as if he were not near enough to us then, he comes down into the heart of a believer by his Spirit. When Christ was upon the earth, we were in him as in a common person: now Christ is in heaven, he is in us by his Spirit. What glorious, condescending love is here! If a father portion a child, set him up in a good trade, and the child decay through his own folly, the father will not portion him again; possibly he may help him, but he will not give him; ordinarily parents do not give so great a portion to help him up again, somewhat the parents will do, but not so much as at the first. The Lord of heaven, he puts a great portion into our hands at first, and we decayed, and broke; and behold, the Lord does not only give us as good a portion as we had at the first, but infinitely better; for now the Lord Christ is united unto each believer, now he comes and dwells in the soul of a believer by his Spirit. The Psalmist wondered and admired at the love of God to man: "O Lord (says the Psalmist) how excellent is thy name! Lord, what is man?" Psalm viii. 1, 4. Why? Lord, what is man that thou visitest him! He wondered at the love of God that would visit man. But behold a greater love than so, to visit poor man, for Christ is come down into the soul of a believer, he is come into him by his Spirit; not only come to visit him, but Christ really united unto each believer by his Spirit. What glorious and condescending

love is here!

Upon this account, no wicked man should dare to oppose any of the children of God. Why? Because Christ is in them: Christ not only in his graces, but Christ really in all believers by his Spirit. And will a man dare to speak evil of him that is one with Christ; or to defile the temple of the Lord, and the dwelling-place of the Lord? "He that defiles the temple of the Lord, him will God destroy," 1 Cor. iii. 17. Take heed what you do, if there be any opposers here.

What abundance of comfort is here unto all believers. Christ is in you of a truth; not only by the infusion of his grace, but Christ really in you by his Spirit. It is some comfort to a sickly man, that he hath a physician always in the house with him; and to a woman that is near her time

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